Departmental allocation increases since 1970–71
Bruton asked which Departments had the largest and smallest percentage increases in Exchequer allocations since 1970–71. Colley referred to a table to be circulated and noted that adjusting the Health Department’s base for rate-funded spending would put its increase at 486 per cent.
asked the Minister for Finance the three Departments of State which have received the largest percentage increase in their financial allocation from the Exchequer since 1970-71 and the three Departments which have received the lowest percentage increase; and the increase in each case.
Comment on this
The information requested is set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Highest Percentage Increases
Lowest Percentage Increases
Notes:
(a) The 1970-71 base on which the Department of Health increase has been calculated excludes expenditure from the rates which accounted for about 38 per cent of total public expenditure on health in that year. If the base were adjusted to take account of this the increase for the Department of Health over the period would be 486 per cent.
(b) The 1970-71 base figure for agriculture includes provision for price supports for dairy and meat products which are now borne by the EEC through the common agricultural policy. It is estimated that these supports will amount to about £370 million in the current year and when account is taken of this, the percentage increase in combined EEC and Exchequer aid for agriculture since 1970-71 becomes 487 per cent which is well above the average increase (433 per cent) for all services in the period 1970-71 to 1979.
(c) The 1970-71 base figure for the Department of Tourism and Transport has been adjusted to take account of the transfer of the energy services to the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy.